Craving Realness: Finding Your Balance Between Broccoli and Burgers
Ever heard someone brag about how switching to salads made them saintly and completely forget that fast food is a thing that exists? It sounds pretty amazing, and for some lucky folks out there, it totally works — they swap the burgers for broccoli and look back only to wave goodbye as they speed off in their Lambo. But here’s the real moderately sized, evenly balanced dish: not everyone feels that way…nor has a Lambo, and hey, that’s perfectly fine!
The Myth of Universal Food Transformations:
It’s a fairly common narrative: replace junk food with whole, nutrient-rich foods and watch your cravings disappear. But as much as we’d like to believe in this straightforward swap, our eating habits and cravings are far more complex.
Changing your diet isn’t a one-size-fits-all magic trick. While diving into a bowl of fresh, healthy rabbit food…um, salad can change some cravings; it’s okay if you’re not there yet.
Just like our preferences for porn…um…movies, or music, our food choices and desires vary widely and, in some cases, quite strangely. Some may find that fresh foods brute force out the old cravings, while others might still find their mouths watering at the thought of a cheesy slice of pizza. I am absolutely one of those peeps not blessed with the fresh food Jedi force. I love pizza. I mean, I LOVE PIZZA! I literally wake up craving pizza most days.
Why It’s Okay Not to Forget Pizza:
The truth is that changing what you eat doesn’t automatically change what you crave. And that’s okay! Food is not just fuel; it’s also comfort, celebration, and tradition. If you still find yourself eyeing the burger menu after a week of green smoothies, don’t beat yourself up; you’re not failing — you’re human.
Changing habits takes time, and it’s totally normal to have cravings — even when you’re eating super well. The goal isn’t to never desire a treat; it’s to develop a healthier relationship with all foods.
Balancing Act: Healthy Eating Meets Real-World Cravings
So, how do we manage this balance? Well, it all starts with setting realistic expectations — super simple. Simple doesn’t mean easy, though. The real kicker is that healthy eating isn’t about perfection; it’s about making better choices most of the time.
It’s perfectly acceptable to plan for indulgences and enjoy them guilt-free. This way of eating ensures that a diet enriches your life instead of restricting it. You’re not trying to make yourself a prisoner inside your own body. Playing warden, jailer, and prisoner doesn’t work. Something has to give somewhere along the line. Willpower alone isn’t going to get you through cravings forever.
(You can learn more about why, here)
Practical Tips for Balancing Cravings:
- Mindful Eating: Pay attention to what you eat and savour every bite. Whether it’s a salad or a slice of pizza, eating mindfully can help satisfy your cravings more effectively.
- 70/30 Rule: Aim to eat healthily 70% of the time, and leave 30% for those less healthy foods you still love.
- Embrace Variety: Keep your diet interesting by trying new healthy recipes. Sometimes, a well-spiced dish can rival the flavours of your favourite fast food.
- Forgive and Move Forward: Had a moment of weakness? It’s not the end of your healthy eating journey. Acknowledge it, enjoy it, and continue with your goals.
Last Thoughts on the Subject
Eating well doesn’t mean you have to forget the taste of everything else. It’s about creating a healthy, enjoyable diet that includes room for occasional indulgences. After all, a healthy lifestyle is a marathon, not a sprint — it’s about finding what makes you feel good and sticking with it, not adhering to an all-or-nothing approach. There is a lot of space between all and nothing to work with.
It’s about finding what works for you and making it fun, not just a list of dos and don’ts. Perfectionism kills most things, and trying to be a “perfectionist” with your eating and weight loss will have detrimental effects somewhere along the way.
Whether it’s a weekday salad or a weekend scoop of ice cream, what matters is how you balance it all to fit your life and your happiness. So let’s keep it real, keep it fun, and make peace with our pizza, one delicious bite at a time!
Thank you for reading. Let me know what you think, or let me have it in the comments if you want; it’s up to you.
Otherwise, if you want to work with me, feel free to email me. My email is in my bio.
Peace be da journey!
- Taron
